Molding means and display casing for replicas of frontal teeth before and after orthodontic treatment

ABSTRACT

A reusable dental molding device for retaining a temporary impression of the frontal teeth of a patient for forming a separate molded plastic replica of the frontal teeth before and after a period of orthodontial treatment including a display casing for retaining normal size replicas of the teeth before and after treatment in opposite sides thereof.

United States Patent Geltzer Aug. 29, 1972 I54] MOLDING MEANS AND DISPLAY CASING FOR REPLICAS OF FRONTAL TEETH BEFORE AND AFTER ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT [72] Inventor: Bernard Geltzer, 7400 N. Kendall Drive, Miami, Fla. 33156 [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 77,899

[52] US. Cl ..32/17 [51] Int. Cl ..A6lc 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..32/14, 17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,467,432 4/1949 Kosling ..32/14 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 654,548 12/1937 Germany ..32/17 Primary ExaminerRobert Peshock Att0rneyLloyd J Andres [5 7 ABSTRACT A reusable dental molding device for retaining a temporary impression of the frontal teeth of a patient for forming a separate molded plastic replica of the fronta] teeth before and after a period of orthodontial treatment including a display casing for retaining normal size replicas of the teeth before and after treatment in opposite sides thereof.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUE 2 9 m2 SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR. BERNARD GELTZER By PATENIED M182 9 1972 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR. BERNARD GELTZER MOLDING MEANS AND DISPLAY CASING FOR REPLICAS OF FRONTAL TEETH BEFORE AND AFTER ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT This invention relates in general to the dental profession and more particularly to the field of orthodontics.

Prior to this invention the technique of correction of malformation and malocclusion of the teeth is well understood by professional dental practitioners. However, the average layman not so skilled often fails to realize the advantages of correcting malformations of the teeth, particularly from the standpoint of improving the bite, aswell as appearance.

This invention, although of interest to professionals in the dental field is also of particular interest to nonprofessionals and to those persons undergoing orthodontic treatment and receiving the resulting correction. To this end the present invention provides a before and after casting method and means including a molded replica display means, which are the principal objects of the invention.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded side elevation of a two-piece mold for producing a replica of frontal teeth.

FIG. 2 is an exploded end elevation of the mold shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mold shown in FIG. 1 with a pattern element of frontal teeth therein.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken through section line 44, FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the extraction of the plaster casting and impression with the base of the mold from the casing thereof.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the casting removed from the impression.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the casing retaining the molded replica of frontal teeth before treatment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view showing the molded frontal teeth positioned to be inserted in onehalf of the casing.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of each of the halves of the casing before assembly.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the assembled casing showing the frontal teeth before and after treatment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plastic molded tubular sleeve 1 includes an integral projection 2 on one side thereof and has a wall of substantially uniform thickness. The inner surface of the sleeve has a downward divergent draft angle in the order of one degree from the center line of the sleeve, to be hereinafter described. A plastic molded base 3 is provided with a substantially ellipsoidal inner surface and contains four integral legs 4, the ends of which are coplanar. The base also has six holes 5 therethrough for a use to be hereinafter described. The outer periphery of the base 3 is tapered to provide a snug fit when moved into the lower portion of the sleeve 1, as shown in FIG. 5. In terms of general molding practice, the sleeve 1 and base 3 provide a cope and drag, respectively.

The base 3 adapted to temporarily retain a pliable impression material 6, such as hydrocoloid-agar gel or one of the several well known pliable rubber dental impression compounds. A small quantity of impression material 6 is retained to the ellipsoidal surface of the 15-15, which are in opposite halves l1 and 12,

base 3 and secured in position by projections 7 thereof, which with any entrapped air is forced through the six holes 5 in the base, best shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. Said holes also provide escape means for entrapped air.

The frontal tooth impression is made with the base urged against the frontal teeth of the patient with the lips well parted, which will form a detailed impression of the formation and relation of the teeth. The base is then inserted into the lower end of the sleeve 1, marked by projection 2, until the legs are in the same plane with the lower edge of the sleeve, which is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. FIG. 3 illustrates the impressions of the teeth 8 within the sleeve 1.

The next step involves the careful pouring of well known dental plaster 9 into the sleeve 1, as shown in FIG. 5, exercising care to prevent air pockets. When the plaster has cured to final hardness, the now molded plaster 10 and the impression material 6 and the base 3 are forced downward out of the sleeve 1, as indicated by arrow in FIG. 6. Then the base and impression material is carefully disengaged from the plaster casting, which results in a precise plaster molding 10 of the patients teeth.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show equal plastic molded halves 11 and 12 of a display stand, which halves are shown in perspective in FIG. 10, with a central cavity 13 in each half outwardly divergent and contoured to mate replicas such as plaster l0 formed by the mold means 1 and 3. The two halves l1 and 12 of the display are joined back to back, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, and retained thereon by dowels l414 and mating holes respectively. Thus when the two halves are joined together by dowels 14, the before and after molded plaster l0 and 10a of the teeth are secured by friction and/or an adhesive, not shown, thus clearly illustrating the improvement made by the orthodontist.

It is to be understood that certain modifications in the above construction are intended to come within the scope and teachings of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A permanent mold for preparing replicas of frontal teeth in one end thereof to show before and after orthodontic treatment, comprising a tubular mold sleeve having a bottom planar edge thereof normal to the principal axis of said sleeve and an open, upper end, said sleeve having a cavity therein divergently tapered at a predetermined angle toward the lower end of said sleeve, said mold also including a removable transfer base having an outer periphery slidably mated with the inner periphery of said lower end of the mold sleeve, said transfer base having a concave upper surface and bottom support means, said concave upper surface supporting a predetermined quantity of resilient impression compound whereby total impressions of the frontal teeth of a patient can be effected when the base is removed from the sleeve and the compound pressed against the frontal, whereupon the transfer base with impressed compound is reinserted into the lower portion of said mold sleeve to receive self-curing molding compound poured in at the upper end of said sleeve and a removable replica of said teeth is formed within said sleeve.

2. The construction recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve cavity comprises an elongated space with transverse cross sectional ends which terminate in semicylindrical ends.

3. The construction recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve includes a longitudinal projection to provide a keyway for slidably receiving and orienting said base to receive molding compound.

4 The construction recited in claim 1, wherein the lower edge of said sleeve has a projection extending outwardly for indicating the positioning of said sleeve on a planar surface prior to pouring said molding compound.

5. A permanent mold for molding self curing plaster, full scale replicas of frontal teeth to show before and after orthodontic treatment, comprising a tubular mold sleeve having a bottom planar edge thereof normal to the principal axis of said sleeve, said sleeve being open at its upper and its lower ends to form a cavity therein which divergently tapers at a predetermined angle toward said bottom edge, said mold having a removable transfer base which is in the lower portion of said mold sleeve, the upper surface of said base being substantially ellipsoidal in shape with a plurality of perforations therein, the bottom of said base having support means to rest on a planar surface normal to the axis of said cavity, a predetermined quantity of resilient impression compound retained on said ellipsoidal surface and secured thereto by projections of said compound in said perforations, said base and compound being removable from said sleeve to take total impressions of the frontal teeth of a patient when the teeth are pressed against said compound, whereby said base and compound can then be inserted into the lower portion of said mold sleeve and self curing plaster poured into said open upper end to prepare a plaster replica of the teeth, whereupon the replica can be extracted from the lower end of said sleeve. 

1. A permanent mold for preparing replicas of frontal teeth in one end thereof to show before and after orthodontic treatment, comprising a tubular mold sleeve having a bottom planar edge thereof normal to the principal axis of said sleeve and an open, upper end, said sleeve having a cavity therein divergently tapered at a predetermined angle toward the lower end of said sleeve, said mold also including a removable transfer base having an outer periphery slidably mated with the inner periphery of said lower end of the mold sleeve, said transfer base having a concave upper surface and bottom support means, said concave upper surface supporting a predetermined quantity of resilient impression compound whereby total impressions of the frontal teeth of a patient can be effected when the base is removed from the sleeve and the compound pressed against the frontal, whereupon the transfer base with impressed compound is reinserted into the lower portion of said mold sleeve to receive self-curing molding compound poured in at the upper end of said sleeve and a removable replica of said teeth is formed within said sleeve.
 2. The construction recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve cavity comprises an elongated space with transverse cross sectional ends which terminate in semi-cylindrical ends.
 3. The construction recited in claim 1, wherein said sleeve includes a longitudinal projection to provide a keyway for slidably receiving and orienting said base to receive molding compound.
 4. The construction recited in claim 1, wherein the lower edge of said sleeve has a projection extending outwardly for indicating the positioning of said sleeve on a planar surface prior to pouring said molding compound.
 5. A permanent mold for molding self curing plaster, full scale replicas of frontal teeth to show before and after orthodontic treatment, comprising a tubular mold sleeve having a bottom planar edge thereof normal to the principal axis of said sleeve, said sleeve being open at its upper and its lower ends to form a cavity therein which divergently tapers at a predetermined angle toward said bottom edge, said mold having a removable transfer base which is in the lower portion of said mold sleeve, the upper surface of said base being substantially ellipsoidal in shape with a plurality of perforations therein, the bottom of said base having support means to rest on a planar surface normal to the axis of said cavity, a predetermined quantity of resilient impression compound retained on said ellipsoidal surface and secured thereto by projections of said compound in said perforations, said base and compound being removable from said sleeve to take total impressions of the frontal teeth of a patient when the teeth are pressed against said compound, whereby said base and compound can then be inserted into the lower portion of said mold sleeve and self curing plaster poured into said open upper end to prepare a plaster replica of the teeth, whereupon the replica can be extracted from the lower end of said sleeve. 